Quick hits: thinking about round two

With the Rangers no doubt enjoying watching the Capitals and Islanders beat each other up in a seven game marathon while benefiting from some rare down time to get healthy, let’s think about the line-up’s round one performance and look at a few statistics as the Rangers look to move deep into the post-season.

Getting defensive

• The Rangers defense played well against the Capitals but Marc Staal in particular can be better. What’s promising is that despite the unit’s collective, solid performance everyone (maybe Girardi aside) can realistically elevate their games.
• Stating the obvious: a healthy Keith Yandle will be a much more dangerous Keith Yandle. If Yandle is 100% entering round two – and Kevin Klein returns – the Rangers will have a big advantage on the blueline against either potential opponent.
• Dan Girardi was by far the Rangers best defenseman over the five game series. He also wasn’t overused which will surely paid dividends later in the playoffs.
• Klein will surely enter the line-up for round two, game one given that he has at least another four days of rest. Klein will give the Rangers another dangerous shot from the blueline. Who will Klein be paired with?
• Henrik Lundqvist career GAA: 2.26, career save %: .921. In the playoffs he sports 2.21 and .923 numbers. Lundqvist was incredibly poised in the first round. He was exceptional with traffic and his rebound control was very good. He’s locked in.

Up front

• Rick Nash was good but not great against the Pens – depending how you judge him. Nash continues to be a two-way monster and as such should be exempt from any criticism but the fact remains he does need to finish a little more. Since a five goal surge at the end of January and beginning February, Nash has just 10 goals in 35 games, including the Pens series.
• The Rangers are built around their depth and that’s why Nash not filling the net every single game isn’t a problem but imagine how excited you’d be if this club had the early/mid-season Nash? Nash will surely see more opportunities against either opponent in round two.
• Nash has 10 goals (18 points) in 22 games against the Isles in his career. He has 12 goals (20 points) in 18 games against the Capitals. Bodes well.
• It might seem premature to some but given his play in the first round and the way he grew over the second half of the season, if finances allow, the Rangers should abandon their policy of bridge contracts for JT Miller this summer. Overpay him now and tie Miller into a longer term contract. He’s shown he can be a two-way, physical force for the Rangers.
• Derick Brassard has 28 points in 40 playoff games as a Ranger. For his career, he has 10 points in 16 games against the Islanders and 8 points in 14 games against the Capitals. Brassard, a pass first guy, has 5 goals in his past 10 games.
• Mats Zuccarello hasn’t really got his playoffs started yet and, health allowing, that’s a huge reason for optimism for the Rangers. Zuccarello makes the Rangers tick.
• Jesper Fast continues to grow into a very solid player and almost always makes the right decision.
• Biggest cause for concern for the Rangers entering round two: Marty St Louis. Chris Kreider isn’t scoring but he’s getting progressively more involved. I can’t quite say the same for St Louis. If the Rangers can get St Louis or Kreider firing on all cylinders it’s hard to see how this team’s depth can be matched in the East.

Looking ahead

•  The Rangers would surely prefer another series against the Caps. The Caps are much slower and more reliant on one player than the Isles are. The Rangers often struggle against the Isles more aggressive depth and that series would be more physically taxing than a Caps series.
• The Islanders boast two of the playoff’s top three players in SAT for while the Capitals have four of the top eleven. Is this merely a result of a seven games series?
• What do faceoffs mean? The Capitals are 1^st overall in the playoffs with a 55.4% success rate while the Islanders are last with 44.6. Draw your own conclusions. Unsurprisingly the Rangers rank near the bottom (14^th) with 45.6% success.
• Both the Caps and Isles are giving up over 31 shots per game in the playoffs, ranking near the bottom of all playoff teams. 3 of the 4 teams ranked lower are already eliminated. If the Rangers generate those kinds of shot totals, the Rangers could win either series quickly.

Question Time

• Who would you rather the Rangers faced and why?
• Which one player do you think needs to be better and why?
• Would you insert Kevin Klein straight back in to the line-up?
• Who will lead the Rangers in goals at the end of their playoff run?